Principal's Newsletters, Week 8, Term 1, 2014

posted Mar 23, 2014, 2:18 AM by Ms. Connors

Congratulations to
Ray Li (12), Daaron Chiu (12) and Ishraq Huda (11) who have been chosen to
attend the Informatics School of Excellence in the upcoming holidays. Of the
final twelve participants, four students will be selected to compete as the
Australian team in the International Informatics Olympiad. The IIO will be held
in Taipei, Taiwan in July.

I am very pleased
to announce that we will have a new staff member join us at the start of Term
2. We welcome Mr Gary Ng to the Mathematics Department. Mrs Doyle and Mr O’Shea
have been teaching these classes in Term 1. We thank them for their wonderful
effort.

On Tuesday
evening, the Community of James Ruse hosted our Study Skills provider; Elevate
Education. The meeting was attended by over 80 parents and all present were
very impressed with the Presenter and package. Parents were shown strategies to
assist with time management and other study skills. All students in Year 7 to Year 12 will
participate in two Study Skills sessions this year. Ms Natalie Novotni, our
Learning Support Coordinator, has initiated and introduced the program. Ms
Novotni also works with students and teachers in developing effective
organisational habits. Please see the attached handout later in newsletter that
was provided to the parents that attended.

Our Mathematics
Faculty has completed an evaluation of the Year 7 Mathematics course and also
followed this with a Maths Focus Group of students from Year 7-11. It was
wonderful to hear students speak of their learning experiences. Many students
offered wonderful suggestions. Thank you to Mrs Weber and Mrs Briggs for
running this meeting. The full evaluation will be produced in the Annual School
Report available in Term 2.

The
Year 7 camp was a wonderful success. I joined the students for dinner and
dancing. It was fabulous watching the bush dancing with a real Bush Band –
banjos included. Here are some photos of the very happy time had by all.

Interact’s Exodus Food drive finished last Friday. On Monday
the van will filled with food and toiletries to take back to Exodus’ kitchens.
Thank you to all families who donated so much. As well as hundreds of cans of
food, over 500 kilograms of rice was delivered. One clever Year 10 class
ordered their donation via Coles Online and I was very surprised to see a Coles
van deliver 75 kilograms of rice! Year 9 Interact students helped to pack the
van.

School has been very quiet this week with Year 10 on
work experience,Year 12 on exams and
Year 7 on camp. Year 12 seem to be managing their exam period well.
Consistently approaching each exam. Please continue to support students as they
complete the last two days of exams.

On Wednesday we hosted a meeting of the Principals in
our Parramatta Network. It is a great experience to share with both our local
Primary School and Secondary School Principals.

Many of our students attended the UN Youth Parliament
last week. Brendan Ma was selected to move to the next round. Congratulations
Brendan.

Colds, Flus and Viruses are flourishing at school at
the moment. Please ensure if your child is unwell that they stay home. A few
days of rest will see your child remaining healthy and will stop the spread of
the illness to classmates and teachers. Next Friday is the annual SRC tissue
box drive – we are in desparate need.

Traffic and parking around the school – Please be very
careful driving around our school. We have three schools, including Carlingford
West Primary School, in close proximity. We have been asked by Baulkham Hills
Council to remind parents that “dropping off “ students in the bus bay is
illegal and carries a very heavy fine. Parents were fined in the bus bay and
also dropping off near the main entrance in Felton Road last week. Parents must
not drive into the school grounds. If you are dropping off your child in Felton
Road please drive along and deposit child near the hall gate. After your child
alights please turn around at the end of the street in the turning circle. We
are very concerned that a student will be hit by a car in the chaotic
environment that exists between 8.30 and 9.00am.

Coming Up - Week 9

Monday March 24thHSC Assessments continued

Year
7 and 9 Boys Vaccinations

Boys
Knockout Soccer

Tuesday March 25thAustralian Informatics Competition 9am in Hall

HSC
Assessments Last Day

Wednesday March 26thYear 9 High Resolves P1-3

Year
8 Anti-Bullying seminar

Thursday March 27thJRAHS Cross Country

Friday March 28thYear 12 Debate

Australian
Geography Competition

Duke
of Edinburgh Silver Hike

Year
11 Study Skills – Elevate Education

Tissue
Box Drive

Thank you for your
continued support of our school. Have a lovely weekend.